Without You

Chapter 23

The girls hangout as promised for game night at Kara's. Kara and Alex are in the kitchen getting snacks, so Sam takes this as an opportunity to confront Lena.
"So what's really going on with you and Kara?"
"What do you mean? She's my best friend," Lena takes a sip of her drink to try and hide her blush.
"Come on, I've seen the way you look at her."
"Yeah well, it's never going to happen so I'm just trying to get over it okay?"
"That's not what Alex says,"
"What does Alex have to do with this?"
"Lets just say that your chances are much higher than you think, but only if you do something about it."
"I don't want to lose her, or our friendship..."
"You won't."
"Its just- its more complicated than that..." Lena dismisses her, just in time as Kara and Alex are back with games and snacks.
"Who's ready to lose?" Kara holds up a board game, oblivious to the awkward tension in the air.
Lena is being unusually quiet as they start the game, trying to simultaneously process and ignore what Sam said.
"Is everything alright Lena?" Kara whispers.
"Mmhmm" she swallows and tries to put on a smile, "why wouldn't it be?"
"Okay, But you know you can always tell me anything," Lena nods and turns back to the game. So Kara drops it, but she's still worried. 'If it was anything serious Lena would tell me, wouldn't she?' Lena manages to relax a little and enjoy the rest of the night with her friends.
At the end of the night after Lana and Sam are gone home, Kara's on the couch eating some of the leftovers.
"Kara what are you doing?" Alex asks as she sits next to her on the couch.
"What? im just eating?"
"No, i mean about Lena, we both know that you like her. why havent you done anything about it yet?"
"It's complicated-"
"It's not complicated, you're just chicken. you have to put yourself out there. It'll never happen if you dont make it happen."
"Okay just because youre all happy and in love with Sam, doesn't mean you're suddenly an expert on love."
"If you're worried about Kenna," Alex continues anyway ignoring her sister, "it's not that big a deal, new relationships can work even if there's kids involved."
"Stop using your relationship as a universal truth. Its different. And I dont need to have a carbon copy of your relationship."
"Okay fair, but Sam-" Kara glares at her sister. "Hear me out. Sam is close with Lena and she thinks that Lena likes you."
"God what is this sixth grade?" she rolls her eyes. "Likes me," she meant to scoff, but can't help the little smile that takes over instead.
—————
"Hey what are you up to?" Kara asks Lena over the phone one afternoon.
"Not much I just got home from work, what's up."
"I just- can I come over? I need to talk to you."
"Yeah of course, is everything alright?"
"Yeah,"
"Okay just come by whenever."
"Thanks, I'll see you." Kara's replies sound short and like she's nervous. Now Lena is worried her mind now thinking up every bad situation. But Kara gets there and she's smiling so Lena is instantly calmed.
"Come on in," they stand awkwardly at the island for a minute.
"So did you want to do something, watch a movie, have some wine? Or do you just need to talk?"
Kara let's out a nervous laugh, "Just talk I guess." Lena just nods and leads them to the couch. She doesn't say anything as Kara fidgets with her hands and works up the courage to speak.
"Okay So, there's something I've been wanting to talk to you about," she starts, and Lena nods encouragingly. "I- well, I guess I've been-" Kara's stuttering is cut off by a phone ringing, she's fully ready to ignore it but it's her Supergirl line. "Shit Lena, I have to go," They both get up off the couch and head towards the balcony.
"It's fine, you can tell me when you get back," Kara takes a shaky breath, she knows she has to do it now, "I can't wait any longer,"
"It's okay Kara, you have to go."
"I love you." Lena inhales sharply at this. Something about the look on Kara's face tells her she doesn't mean as friends.
"I love you too," she leans up and kisses her cheek. Kara's stunned for a minute. "Now go save the city," Lena has to nearly push her out the door, "go, before there's nothing left to come back to." Kara's face breaks out into a stupid smile before she leaps off the balcony, leaving her clothes scattered on the floor. Lena is beaming as she watches the love of her life take of into the sky. After a minute of taking it all in she gathers Kara's discarded clothes and neatly folds them inside.
——-
Kara deals with the threat in record time. She's back at the D.E.O dealing with protocol and paperwork, rushing through it. "What's up with you today?" Vasquez asks.
"I was in the middle of something when I got the call," is all she reveals, but she can't help but smile. Finally her work is done, and it hasn't even been that long, but it felt like forever. She flies back to Lena's, once her feet reach the floor she throws open the door and rushes inside. Lena stands from her place on the couch, she had been waiting for her. Kara runs to Lena and pulls her into a kiss.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted that,"
"You have no idea how long I've wanted  you to do that," they kiss again. And again. They finally break apart, just holding each other on the couch, both a little stunned that this is actually happening.
"So what was it you wanted to tell me?" Lena teases.
"I think you get the idea,"
"No, tell me."
Kara pulls her in for a kiss. "I. Love. You." She says each word punctuated by a kiss. Their kisses deepen, and Kara moves onto Lena's lap as Lena is unhooking Kara's cape. Soon after Kara lays Lena down on the couch and is unbuttoning her shirt.
"Rao, you're beautiful,"
"Kara," she breathes, and pulls her closer again. Lena's delicate hand rests on Kara's face, she takes it in hers, kisses it, then noticing Lena's watch, turns it towards herself.
"Shit," she says as she sees the time, "I have to go." She sits up quickly and starts looking around for her clothes. "God I don't want to, but Kenna - I have to -"
"It's okay, there will be plenty of time for this later." Lena assures her. Kara's trying to put on her regular clothes but she can't look away from Lena sprawled out on the couch with her shirt half off.
"Rao I don't want to leave you like this," Kara groans, and leans down over the side of the couch to kiss her one last time.
"I'll be thinking about you tonight" Lena whispers low into her ear, knowing exactly what she's doing.
Kara nearly melts, "Well, don't have too much fun without me," she warns, and nips Lena's ear. "I'll see you tomorrow," she promises and leaves before she won't be able to pull herself away another time.